Improving writing skills for good: a game of four quarters

A one-size-fits-all approach to training is no good. Writing skills vary and therefore so will individual needs. Effective writing training starts – and finishes – with what you’re looking for. So an Emphasis better business writing programme normally begins with a meeting with you. On the phone or in person: it’s up to you.

We’ll ask you to tell us about the problems you have identified, the impact these are having on your business and any objectives you have set.

We will usually ask to see examples of work from your organisation so that we can form a clear picture of the issues you face.

We will then recommend the best approach and suggest what to include in the course, if appropriate. And we’ll tell you what it will cost.

Once you are happy to go ahead, we will move into the delivery phase.

The first step is to design any courses in more detail. This includes ensuring that all examples and exercises are relevant to the type of work you do to move your organisation towards writing success.

If your programme involves editorial or writing consultancy work, this is when we simply get stuck in.

Individual analysis

Once the course is ready and the dates booked, we will gather writing samples from all delegates. To improve writing skills – for good – delegates first need to know where their particular areas of weakness lie. And know what they’re doing right, too. So we produce a unique, detailed, individual (and confidential) pre-course analysis of each delegate's work, complete with a graph that shows exactly where they need to concentrate their efforts.

Running the course

What a difference a day makes. Our one-day training courses are intensive, interactive, practical – and fun. (Yes, really.) Delegates learn and apply techniques for approaching and structuring documents, then work closely on their own marked-up writing samples, putting them firmly on the path towards good writing skills.

We always send clear joining instructions so that everyone knows what to expect and exactly where to go and when.

One-to-one coaching

It’s possible to change some of the habits of a lifetime in a day, but not all of them. For this reason, we normally recommend follow-up. Delegates almost always remember and apply a number of techniques from one of our intensive one-day courses. But a short follow-up coaching session with each delegate can dramatically improve writing skills across the whole range.

This is because it assesses how well each delegate is applying the knowledge gained in the original training course, consolidates that knowledge and focuses on the areas that they're still having problems with.

It also provides a way of benchmarking improvement. Writing success is also more likely this way, because it encourages delegates to keep on thinking about better business writing.

Using a second writing sample and graph, the trainer talks the delegate through any blind spots and offers targeted exercises where necessary. At 30–40 minutes, a coaching session minimises disruption to the working day. And it provides a ‘safe’ environment in which to discuss any specific writing problems.

Remote coaching

We can also organise e-coaching sessions or telephone coaching if that’s a more convenient way of improving writing skills in your organisation. That way, delegates need not even move away from their desks. So it’s cheaper (fewer expenses) and a greener shade of green (no travel).

As with the face-to-face coaching, the trainer uses a second writing sample to identify ongoing weak areas and work through these with the delegate.

For e-coaching, we use Adobe Connect Pro™ – an application that allows both participants to view the same Word™ document simultaneously. The technology is simple: all you need is a phone, a computer, Flash Player 9 (which is free to download) and an Internet connection. We can also tailor a complete e-learning package if you prefer.

All you need for phone coaching is, well, a phone.

We always like to assess how things have gone. An optional review meeting after the programme gives us a chance to share feedback – both from trainers and delegates. It also gives everyone a chance to air problems or suggest tweaks to the course.

Post-course analysis

We can analyse a second writing sample and graph for delegates to find out how they've improved and in what areas (if any) they still need help. We can also write a brief action summary to let them know where they should now concentrate their efforts on the road towards writing success.

Both the review meeting and post-course analysis will help you highlight any further training, coaching or writing-consultancy needs.

We recognise that, even with the best of intentions, it’s hard to keep thinking about language when real life, with its schedules and deadlines, kicks in. Good writing skills can sometimes go astray. So we subscribe all delegates to our Making words work continuous learning scheme, which comprises:

• free telephone and email support for ad-hoc queries, for a year after the initial course
• our regular tips e-bulletin, Write Away, to keep up to date with business-writing news, opinions, features and our latest writing courses.

Even after a year, they’re still not on their own. We encourage all delegates to continue improving writing skills by visiting our advice forum, Write Here, and listening to our podcast, Write On. We’ll sort out any niggling queries or office arguments – the writing-related ones anyway.

And we’re always happy to discuss follow-up coaching – by phone or in person – when delegates feel they need a refresher session.